**Corruption Watchdog ‘Must Be Given Teeth’ to Act, Says Lawyer**
In a recent call for reform, lawyer Achilleas Demetriades emphasized the need for significant changes to Cyprus' anti-corruption framework. Speaking on Wednesday, Demetriades argued that the independent anti-corruption authority should be endowed with greater powers to effectively carry out its mandate. His remarks come in the wake of the government's announcement to appoint independent criminal investigators to look into allegations stemming from the controversial "Mafia State" case, which is expected to be referred to the legal service shortly.
Demetriades described the current anti-corruption authority as "toothless," asserting that the existing framework is inadequate for managing complex corruption investigations. He highlighted the necessity for an independent prosecutor to be appointed alongside any criminal investigators tasked with examining allegations against former President Nicos Anastasiades. This suggestion follows the recusal of Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Savvas Angelides from the investigation due to their connections with the Anastasiades administration.
The lawyer expressed concern that the conflict of interest extends beyond the two senior officials, impacting the institutions involved in the investigation. He clarified that his criticism was not aimed at the competence or integrity of the legal service personnel. However, he warned that the fundamental issues would persist if independent investigators ultimately report their findings to the attorney-general’s office. “From now on, they must not only appoint independent investigators, but also appoint an independent prosecutor, who will direct the investigations and advise, since at the end of the day they will be the one to present the case to the court,” Demetriades stated.
To bolster the investigation, Demetriades proposed that the attorney-general could appoint Australian judge Gabrielle McIntyre along with three Cypriot members—Charilaos Chrysanthou, Orestis Nikita, and Andreas Efthymiou—who were part of the investigative team that prepared the anti-corruption authority’s findings. He argued that these individuals are already familiar with the evidence and issues at hand, which would facilitate a more effective investigation.
In the absence of appointments through the legal service, Demetriades suggested that the cabinet could consider appointing independent investigators, although it lacks the authority to appoint a prosecutor. He also reiterated the need for legislative reform of the anti-corruption authority, which he believes currently lacks the necessary powers to conduct thorough investigations without overlapping efforts from other institutions. “The investigation should be done once, we should incur expenses once and we will be finished in half the time,” he asserted.
Demetriades' comments have reignited discussions about Article 113 of the Cyprus constitution, which delineates the powers of the attorney-general. He noted that numerous legislative proposals aimed at reforming the anti-corruption framework have been prepared in the past but have not been advanced despite political commitments to do so.
The government's announcement to appoint independent criminal investigators follows remarks by government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, who confirmed that the cabinet intends to ensure that "every serious point mentioned in the report must be subject to due, full investigation through the competent institutional procedures and without any deviation from the rule of law." The full report from the anti-corruption authority is expected to be submitted to the legal service next week, after which the government plans to proceed with the appointment of independent investigators.
As the situation unfolds, the demand for a more robust and empowered anti-corruption authority in Cyprus continues to grow, with legal experts and citizens alike calling for transparency and accountability in the face of corruption allegations.